We say 'to may to', you say 'to mah to'. Therapy Differences between USA and Everywhere Else

https://pixabay.com/en/physiotherapy-massage-back-567021/ by, Mariolh
Midland, Michigan
March 14, 2017 9:18am CST
All my friends here keep asking me if I'll be having physiotherapy after surgery. With each one I've explained that we don't do that here it's called physical therapy. I decided to look up the differences to see whether it really was the same thing with different names or what exactly. I should have known that with medical terms it would be different. And it is. My link will explain it in more detail. The facility where I go has exercise machines and weight machines like most gyms here do, but they also have several tables where the patient will do different stretches to limber up muscles and tendons after surgery. I've worked with a balance ball under my feet and bring my feet in to try to get my knee more flexible. They give me a huge bolster for under my knees and then pushing down with my knees I raise my foot eight inches and hold and repeat. Yesterday we worked with a short stair step and I used it to try to get more stability and strength on the thigh muscle. I also used a weight bar to pull against to get to a squat. Now that was fun. I want one of those bars at my house so I can do that every day. When I use my kitchen counter top, I know my form is awful and not ergonomically sound. If I had a bar of that type I could do that exercise and get better faster. I wonder whether a chin up bar would work lower down? Probably. May check into that. I usually begin my session on a machine similar to a bike but different too. You have a seat that can be adjusted forward or backward. The foot area is large like a stair stepper would be. The handles can be adjusted as well. I begin on that for five minutes to warm up. Then I walk around the room between the different machines and they check my stride and how I'm lifting my knee or extending it when it's in the back. Then we usually go to one of the tables to do different stretches on that leg. The last few sessions we began working on 'sit-to-stand' exercises, I call them butt lifts. You sit in a chair and without hanging on you stand. Most of you can do this on a regular basis, but I began using my hands to get up some years back, so this is a good thing for me. The one physical therapist assistent I requested also massaged my leg the first day as she tried to get me limber to get more flexibility on my knee. I think she was trying to get it to 120 degrees that first day. We did get it to 95 and not since then. It looks like physiotherapy uses massage, acupuncture possibly, maybe some other holistic methods and some chiropractic methods. Physical Therapy uses none of those. Those methods are readily available in most of our communities, but I don't think any insurance companies would pay for them. Most people that have surgery do get some type of physical therapy paid for by their insurance companies.
Tel: 01 283 4303 Mount MerrionPhysiotherapy 105 Trees Rd, Mount Merrion   div > .uk-panel'}" data-uk-grid-margin> Tel: 01 283 4303 Mount MerrionPhysiotherapy 105 Trees Rd, Mount Merrion Although sometimes used interchangeably the titles 'Physiotherapist' a
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12 responses
@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
14 Mar 17
Well the description of the place where you go with gym machines and several tables where the patient receive the therapy is the same we have here. As we have an Italian term to describe this place it is very possible that I have not translated it using the right US term.
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@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
14 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman In Italian we call it Fisioterapia there are no other terms that we can use. Physical Therapist would translate in Terapista Fisico and this is a term that does not exist.
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
@LadyDuck It actually has the sound, or seems like the sounds would be similar between physiotherapy and fisioterapia.
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
How would you translate it Anna? I may know if it's the right term or not.
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@responsiveme (22923)
• India
14 Mar 17
You explained it very well. Actually when my mother broke her leg the physiotherapist(as they are called here) helped her out with exercises to make her walk. Seems somewhat similar. Interesting post.
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
I think a large portion of it is the same, you all just have easier access to some of the newer methods, newer as in this century, but not used by all the medical providers over here. Do you all ever say PT as a shortcut rather than the whole term?
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• Preston, England
17 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman it was always listed as PT or PE on school timetimables - physical exercise / training
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@shaggin (74987)
• United States
23 Mar 17
I have only heard of the physical therapy we have here in the US but what you described about physiotherapy sounds interesting. I am not sure what am would prefer but both sound like they could have certain benefits. Acupuncture to me seem like a waste of money but am have never been in pain enough to try it. In town here about two years back a girl opened an acupuncture studio. I have been to a chiropractor many times and if necessary then the insurance will cover it but I don't bother to go unless I am in extreme pain. My back usually goes out bad enough every 5 years or so to need an adjustment. They like you to keep coming back every week but I won't. I go once or twice until my back feels better then I stop.
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@shaggin (74987)
• United States
24 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman that sounds like a good idea! 12 free visits could be very beneficial
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• Midland, Michigan
23 Mar 17
Same with me with the chiropractor. I have gone monthly for a while for maintenance, but eventually you need to spend the money elsewhere. I may try to get a referral for my husband and myself for the chiropractor then the insurance would pay for up to twelve visits. That would help with the leftover sciatica I have from before my knee got worse.
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@celticeagle (190074)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Mar 17
I'd like to try one of these. I have never had a body massage but I bet it would be great.
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@celticeagle (190074)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman .....I have found that my rose quartz really came in handy for the pain I had from my shoulder dislocation. I was thankful to have it.
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
@celticeagle I'm not familiar with that, is that one of the essential oils?. My sister made me up a mixture with peppermint and other ingredients and I've been using it on my knees, ankles, calf and last night on my hip and my husband's back. While it didn't cure anything it sure made it easier to get a bit of sleep.
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
I've not done that yet either although my husband and I were taught how to use pressure to relieve muscle aches. I think a chiropractor taught us.
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• Preston, England
15 Mar 17
I feel exercised just reading all that - good luck with it
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• Preston, England
15 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman I should certainly get more exercise than I do get
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• Midland, Michigan
16 Mar 17
@arthurchappell Are there gyms there that you can access for minimal fees? Of course walking is free and it sounds like you have nice areas there to enjoy if you were to walk more. I considered myself too busy before to walk much, but I'm hoping to change that before going back to work. Then I need to make more of an effort to utilize the daylight hours when I'm done for the day and continue to walk.
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• Midland, Michigan
15 Mar 17
That's pretty funny, Arthur. But, I'm sure that won't benefit you any more than staying busy or active. Many of us think that's enough.
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@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
14 Mar 17
The exercises sound great. You're going to be better than ever in no time!
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
I hope so. I'm not doing so well with getting my leg to close against my thigh which is needed to get into and out of cars. It's the angle most will use when sitting in something like a kitchen chair. The back of my calf seems swollen making it hard to push when doing the specific exercises for that.
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• Midland, Michigan
16 Mar 17
@CRK109 Are you using a cane at all yet? What I've been doing is using my cane as an extra foot. I will lift my left foot into the car and while the other foot is still on the ground, I'll put my cane into my left hand and using the cane and the metal of the car door jamb scoot myself closer to the car so I can then propel myelf inside with my right foot. I always make sure someone is nearby especially in snowy weather. I've been doing it this way since having my surgery so I've gotten quite stable with the cane in this way. What I did before surgery and it's what I should be doing now, but I can't is sit the butt down on the seat first and swing both legs onto the floorboards together. Maybe that will work for you now? When I did that after surgery, because I can't yet get my left knee at a 95 degree angle, my foot is too long to clear the door where the hinge is. So, I worked out the other way for me. I also have to watch so my right foot doesn't slip on ice, but that's been minimal until this week and should be melted in a couple of days again. You made it through the storm okay?
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@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
16 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman yes, I understand exactly what you're talking about. I'm sure time and exercise will take care of that for you. Right now, for me, getting into cars is painful since it's my left knee that's the worst and I have so much trouble lifting that leg up high enough to get into cars, especially SUVs. But if people give me enough time, I can work it out.
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@allknowing (153529)
• India
17 Mar 17
i did not know that there was a difference I thought it was the usual how US wants to be different. We here call it physiotherapy. I have undergone that and it is a must even for those who are normal
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• Midland, Michigan
17 Mar 17
It's very similar, but your type may have a few things included in one location that ours does not. I gathered we were the only ones with just physical therapy since Canada, England and India has said the one you just did.
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• United States
14 Mar 17
I'm more familiar with physical therapy especially when my mom had to go into rehab after her surgery this summer. She would have to go to physical therapy sometimes 2x a day to get back her strength and coordination.
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
Here in the US we call it physical therapy. I don think the other type is all done in one location here, Marilyn.
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15 Mar 17
i hope that your therapy is going well. my mom is having a lot of pain with hers.
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• Midland, Michigan
16 Mar 17
When did she have her surgery, Jill? There will be pain with both PT and just getting around. Some have more pain than others. I had hardly any pain from the surgery itself, but my knee was in so much pain since last July that the surgery made a big difference in that regard. The PT and exercises themselves still do hurt. Someone or various someone's told me they'd rather you do a bit of screaming or moaning than refuse to do what's asked. My pt has worked my knee and leg in ways that I'd never do it by myself, but she's gotten it further along that way too. Her boss is nicer and doesn't push quite so hard, so it's a nice medium as I've had both of them for my sessions. I do want full flexibility. I'd rather wait until the back of my calf is no longer swollen, but by then it may be too late for my knee in that it would hurt even worse if I began my therapy then. Did she get exercises to do at home? I have ones to do on a bed, or recliner and others to do while standing up. If she doesn't have any of them, I'm going to scan what I have into my computer and send them to my daughter and Belle *(IZ) to use before surgery. I can add you to my list.
@JESSY3236 (22287)
• United States
14 Mar 17
Since I have mild cerebral palsy, my balance was terrible when I was little. I had physical therapy back then. It wasn't like it is today. I wish I had the physiotherapy too back then. It might have helped my leg cramps.
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
If you still have leg cramps and your doctor's don't have answers that work try an holistic approach. If you get Charley horses potassium works great.
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@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
14 Mar 17
It is pretty much the same thing but, as you say, physiotherapy uses some added methods also some added disciplines such as occupational therapists....physio and OT often go hand in hand over here.
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• Midland, Michigan
14 Mar 17
We have OT people working in the same facility too, I was told yesterday. They also worked with each of us in the hospital along with the PT people.
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@syeow1 (5138)
• India
14 Mar 17
Oh thanks for sharing nice information